General newb questioning!!?!

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 02:16 PM

Let's start off saying HELLO! This is my first post, I imagine I'll frequent this section mostly so I'll start out posting here.

I am Josh, from Florida, I have a 9month old(15") female Rosy boa named Zelda. This is my first snake, my brother has had them in past so I've had an idea of them; I've raised Cuban tree frogs for acouple years now, caring for pets is nothing new to me.

A good friend of my breeds various herps and while he was on a herping trip in Arizona I purchased his daughter(with his money) her first car!!(VWTDI)
So, in October he got lucky with his Rosy boas he offered me one for my troubles in searching for a car for her, naturally I excepted.

I have set up a whole tank for her, she seems to love it, I think I'm doing okay as a dad so far. I am using 'Play Sand(heated to 165*)' from HD, rocks I found are the yard, acouple of cacti I bought and I purchased some lights, heated and just day lights and such. I have her setup with a hot and cold shelter, rock to absorb heat and a clay water bowl I made.

So I start this thread hoping to make it a general discussion area for me to learn. I'd like anyone to post 'random' tips about Rosys that seems important
Or just anything that seems important about them.

Right now I have fed her 2thawed pinkies per feeding, every 13 days. When do I need to increase her feeding or shorten her intervals between meals?

She currently doesn't like me reaching into her enclosure and getting her, I only reach in when she's out wandering. I can grab her with the hook place her in my hand and she is totally fine. Why is she being a butthead about me getting her? How do I break her of it?

Does anyone know of any good YouTube videos for general handling/picking up procedures for snakes in general or Rosys?

Sorry for the novel, hope to see some advice soon.
-Josh/Zelda

**EL Ziggy** · 06-21-13, 03:21 PM

Hi Josh, welcome to the forum. I don't know much about pythons but I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in soon. Good luck with your new "baby"

**Aaron_S** · 06-21-13, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Hi Josh, welcome to the forum. I don't know much about pythons but I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in soon. Good luck with your new "baby"

It's a boa, not a python.

Don't worry about the cage defensiveness. Keep using the hook. Much easier that way.

Feeding, I'd feed your snake every 7 days and if she's eating two pinks I'd offer 1 fuzzy.

I'd get rid of the play sand. Aspen beta chip is much better. Easier to clean, looks great, they can burrow and if ingested it's small enough to pass with ease.

sweatshirt · 06-21-13, 03:32 PM

Welcome :] Rosys are beautiful

Chu'Wuti · 06-21-13, 03:33 PM

My suggestion is for you to begin by reading Rosy Boa care sheets and read through Rosy Boa threads on this forum. I have three major concerns, along with some minor concerns: your temperatures, your feeding period, and your substrate. Your temperature is the scariest--you've posted:

Quote:

I am using 'Play Sand(heated to 165*)' from HD

.

Heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit? Seriously? I hope that was a typo. Sand can be a risk in that if the snake ingests it, it can cause impactions and possibly internal lacerations along the interior of the gut.n Young Rosies need to be fed more often than every 13 days--every 4-7 or 5-7 days is generally recommended.

Here are links to some care sheets for Rosy Boas:

rosyboas.com v3.2

ww.vmsherp.com/CarePages/CareRosyBoa.htm

Rosy Boa care - Bane Reptiles

Good luck with your new Rosy! They are beautiful snakes!

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 03:48 PM

Play sand, as far as cleaning and such, I am not feeding in tank in case of mess and to keep her from being aggressive(feeding) in tank.

The 165 isn't a typo, however I didn't go into detail.
For all my setups, reptile or amphibian I bake all my substrate to "165*" to kill bacteria and eggs. Then after it COOLS I setup my aquariums.

I don't store my dang snake at 165degrees!!!! Ha

I'll definitly look into feeding her more then for sure. That is why I'm here, to learn!

I have the tank heated by lamp not pad, it usually stays 83-86 on the hot side and 79-81 on the cold, not much difference. It's very consistent, I have the light on a timer setup.

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 03:53 PM

Chu I'll check out those links! Thank you!

I read that coconut husk material would cause lacerations but play sand wouldn't.. That's one reason I went with it. As mentioned in my second post, I do not feed in tank, so the chance of ingesting isnt as high?

Thanks for all the welcomes, and thanks for the info so far guys! Keep the responses coming I am here to learn not argue!

Mikoh4792 · 06-21-13, 04:04 PM

Wouldn't feeding in a separate container make it less easier to tame it? Every time you take it out of it's enclosure for handling it may associate that with feeding. I feed all my snakes in their enclosures and they are fine.

sweatshirt · 06-21-13, 04:05 PM

Yeah I just use a paper towel/plate for my baby boa and she doesn't swallow her substrate

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Wouldn't feeding in a separate container make it less easier to tame it? Every time you take it out of it's enclosure for handling it may associate that with feeding. I feed all my snakes in their enclosures and they are fine.

I feel like this is just a personal thing. I believe it may OR may not effect anything. I kindof think when I pull It out it'll think whatever, when I place it in a separate container that probably smells like her last meal then she'll kindof think feeding time?
I feel like this is similar to cars, "I change my oil every 8,000 miles!" "you have to change it every 3,000 miles.". Does that make sense? I thinks it's all in the head maybe, just a personal idea?

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweatshirt

Yeah I just use a paper towel/plate for my baby boa and she doesn't swallow her substrate

I feed in a round tupperware like container with a folded papertowel on the bottom. No problems so far

I believe since she doesn't feed in tank its not as much of an issue, I'll continue researching it. However I do think the play sand retains moisture more, which isn't going to be good.

**Aaron_S** · 06-21-13, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaTheRosy

I feel like this is just a personal thing. I believe it may OR may not effect anything. I kindof think when I pull It out it'll think whatever, when I place it in a separate container that probably smells like her last meal then she'll kindof think feeding time?
I feel like this is similar to cars, "I change my oil every 8,000 miles!" "you have to change it every 3,000 miles.". Does that make sense? I thinks it's all in the head maybe, just a personal idea?

You were on the right track at the start of your post. The car analogy killed you since it doesn't really compare.

It's a personal thing mostly. Some people do it for the sake of putting their mind at ease. That's all it is though. It can stress the snake out too.

One could argue, trying to stick your hand in the feeding tub after it's eaten could get a feeding response.

If the temperatures are correct, I'd feed it in it's tub. It'll pass substrate if it's ingested.

ZeldaTheRosy · 06-21-13, 05:13 PM

Okayy, If you say so

How often should she go to the bathroom? It seems like she's only gone to the bathroom once since I've gotten her, is it common for her to not often?

Starbuck · 06-21-13, 05:14 PM

Irs unlikely that the cage DEFENSIVNESS has anything to do with feeding... this might be a problem later on (unlikely), but right now it just sounds like a scared baby snake. She will get better with time and age, but for now keep using the hook. Keep in mind that in the wild, anything handling a snake is probably trying to eat it :-)

Rosys are beautiful, awesome snakes. Have fun with yours!

Lankyrob · 06-21-13, 05:14 PM

When you feed pinkies there isnt much "waste" for the snake to pass, i wouldnt worry too much